Final Warning
Notes
Transcript
18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Introduction:
So here we are! At the end of over one year of messages from this incredible book.
I have challenged you with it, and hopefully gave you some insight.
Some of you may even have more questions than when we began!
I think one thing is sure, none of us now have all the answers.
But if we think we need to have every i doted and every t crossed, we are mistaken.
Think about Jesus’ twelve disciples who walked this earth with Him for three and a half years - did they have everything Jesus told them figured out?
No!
In fact in regards to His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, it says in…
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.
Or, when the Angels at the empty tomb told them in...
6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” 8 And they remembered His words.
Not everything in the scriptures will be known now, some of it will be revealed in His time.
But now, as we close the book of Revelation, we see that the Lord gives a stern warning to all who have read it, and that He is coming quickly!
I. The Importance of Doctrinal Purity.
I. The Importance of Doctrinal Purity.
A. The priority of the Word.
A. The priority of the Word.
If there is one thing we can derive from this warning, it is that God’s word is the most important revelation man has from God.
B. Warning about changing the Word.
B. Warning about changing the Word.
Many have assumed that what is meant here has to do with what particular version of the Bible, or which original language text one uses.
But the language indicates that it is the intent that God is speaking of.
The word “add” in our text is the same word we get epithet from. It means to lay upon, and is commonly a phrase or word to describe a person.
A great Biblical example can be seen in...
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
So because of this, ignorance or particular eschatological views that differ than another, is not what God is saying here.
It is for those who would craftily change by adding or taking away from the prophecy of the book to intentionally mislead another.
II. The Need for Vigilance.
II. The Need for Vigilance.
The Lord says, “Surely I am coming quickly”
The verb is indicative which means it is going to happen.
Those that would assert that this is metaphorical are not treating the word honestly!
There is also a common view among pre-millennialists, that the word quickly pertains to the rapidity of the events when they come. Yet, the Greek means both!
The swiftness of the events and that it is coming soon, and that means Jesus is coming soon!
Why does He say this when it has been so long?
The same reason He says, “Look up for your redemption is drawing near”.
25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
As we see the signs of Jesus’ return around us, we should also know the time is short, and that we have little time left to proclaim Him to the world.
There are so many beliefs out there, so many ways the enemy holds onto His own, So many skeptics, that if that’s all we see then we might just give up all hope.
But the truth is that it’s the Spirit that makes alive.
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
So we must be vigilant.
We must look for opportunities to testify of the Love of God.
And we must be busy about the Father’s business, because the time is drawing near when no one can work!
The Lord is coming, and He is coming quickly!